Bel Whitwam Farm Conservation Adviser Expand Bel has 25 years experience of working alongside landowners to deliver effective Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship agreements which deliver for wildlife, wildlife habitats, clean water, healthy soils and help to strengthen our well-loved landscapes. She has worked as an adviser on Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship and more recently in Catchment Sensitive Farming and over the years has developed an expert knowledge on hedge and lowland meadow restoration. With FWAGSW she is now delivering advice on Countryside Stewardship schemes, Cross compliance, resource protection and soils advice and is leading on a project to deliver natural flood management in the Upper Coln.
Charlotte Marshall Assistant Farm Conservation Adviser Expand Charlotte joined FWAG SouthWest in October 2018 and has assisted in a number of projects and events with the Gloucestershire team, including Payments for Ecosystem Services projects in the Upper Thames and organising the Silver Pintail Awards evening. With a Masters degree in Conservation and Biodiversity from the University of Exeter and a background in mammal conservation, Charlotte enjoys finding ways to help farmers and landowners encourage wildlife on their farms while maintaining sustainable farm businesses.
Dan Geerah Assistant Farm Conservation Advisor Expand Graduating in Zoology from Cardiff University, Dan's passion for wildlife and conservation has seen him work in remote areas of Thailand and Indonesia. Now, Dan is excited to channel his love of the natural world into the management of the UK countryside. He has a particular interest in ecological relationships and hopes to provide FWAG with energy and optimism. He enjoys long-distance running, with the Edinburgh Marathon being the next event in his sights.
Elinor Sherlock Assistant Farm Conservation Advisor Expand Eli joined Gloucestershire FWAG in May 2018, after graduating in Earth and Environmental Science from Cardiff University. With a keen interest in conservation and wildlife, Eli has worked previously completing bat surveys for an ecological consultancy, as well as for the Environment Agency GIS mapping Nitrate Vulnerable Zone boundaries. She continues this at FWAG, providing assistance in Countryside Stewardship, Natural Flood management and Thames Water’s Metaldehyde Scheme, by GIS mapping, soil sampling and ecological surveying
Jenny Phelps Senior Farm Conservation Adviser Expand Jenny has over 30 years’ experience giving on farm advice, the last 10 years of which has been with Gloucestershire FWAG. Jenny leads on many projects including the Upper Thames Catchment Based Approach and Payments for Ecosystem Services Defra pilots. All her projects use the integrated Local Delivery methodology, which aims to value and incorporate the knowledge and needs of land owners, authorities and the local communities.
Joanne Leigh Farm Conservation Adviser Expand Joanne has been working with FWAG SouthWest since 2012 and provides land management advice for farmers looking to join environmental stewardship, create and improve wildlife habitats, improve water quality and implement Natural Flood Management. Joanne has been involved in and co-ordinates several projects to improve water quality including the WILD project; organising the agenda for the FWAG volunteers working on the tributaries leading into the Cotswolds Water Park; facilitating the Yellow Fish projects for the River Ray and currently the Coln in Andoversford; working with the Fresh Water Watch group helping local farmers and local communities to monitor water quality. Joanne also facilitates the Carrant Catchment Area Restoration Project near Tewkesbury, helping to improve water quality by implementing Natural Flood Management and link habitat on a landscape scale.
Patrick Dreyer Farm Conservation Adviser Expand Patrick started working for FWAG SW in the Summer of 2015. With over 10 years of practical land management experience he graduated from the RAU in 2014 with a BSc Countryside Management. Originally from West Devon he has a passion for traditional land management coupled with the developing technologies in agriculture. Patrick offers countryside stewardship, cross compliance and general land management advice. He specialises in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), mapping farms and analysing soil and water resources, he also guests lectures at the RAU.
Sarah Wells Farm Conservation Adviser Expand Sarah offers on farm advice on a range of topics including Countryside Stewardship schemes, environmental land management such as habitat creation, nutrient management planning (including NVZ regulations), resource protection and soils advice. For the past two years Sarah has also been involved in drawing up environmental plans for farms in order to satisfy environmental obligations set by retailers. She is experienced in a number of survey techniques and in producing digitised maps through the use of GIS software. Sarah coordinates a number of projects including the facilitation of Payments for Ecosystem services projects throughout the Upper Thames catchment, which focusses on responsible pesticide use and minimising the risk of pesticides reaching surface waters; and the Rest Assured project which aims to help farmers struggling with the complexities of regulation, and to help farms to access funding to support the farm business.